Life In 19x19

Yokoi: I don't know how he can play in a serious setting like this. Go...something else that makes a lot of noise. Well, at least I don't know the rules, and I definitely don't know how the pieces battle each other, so maybe it won't bother me. I think I'll actually be able to listen in class today! Thank goodness!

(Seki keeps playing pieces dramatically. Yokai can't resist peeking.)

Yokoi: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

(Seki moves the pieces to make the bear punch the rabbit, then makes several other fight scenes.)

Yokoi: Oh! But they're fighting! The black stones and the white stones are fighting each other! Leave it to Seki-kun to find a weird way to play Go. Or...is this how you actually play?

(Yokoi imagines a professional Go match--)

Announcer: Player number one....2-8, Bear. Bear clothesline! Player number two...3-6. Bunny executes the Rabbit Chop! Cross Arm-breaker! Player number one...1-5, Bear. Bear German Suplex!

Timekeeper: Ten seconds.

Yokoi. Impossible. That can't be right! No adult can make those with a straight face! Yeah, there's no way. Not something like a bunny strangling a bear.

Teacher: This is going to be on the test.

Yokoi. Wha-? What's that? Now this and--

(Yokoi starts desperately writing notes, only to realize that she's actually drawn the bunny and bear fighting.)

Yokoi: Crap, I ended up copying the fight, too! Geez, this is all Seki-kun's fault! (Glares at him, only to notice that the Go stones are now randomly scattered.)

Yokoi: Man, everything's so messed up, I don't even know what's going on anymore...

(Seki dramatically starts placing Go stones again. Soon Yokoi sees a single back and white creature that looks part bear, part bunny.)

Yokoi: Whoa, they've been combined! A new character has been created! Looks like the battle has been decided. So, back to taking notes...

(Seki plays more Go stones, in even more dramatic scenes.)

Yokoi: He's starting something again. I can't help but be curious...WHAAAAAT?

(Seki has added a second creature identical to the first, except it has its white and black parts reversed, and it is attacking the first creature.)

Yokoi: A new enemy! And it's the opposite color! Is that his shadow self or something? Those are usually pretty tough...

(First creature hits the new creature.)

Yokoi: Yes! He went on the counter-attack! You can do it! Don't lose to your shadow!

(First creature kicks second creature)

Yokoi: Yes, you've got this!

(A flash of light between the creatures, made with white Go stones)

Yokoi: Whoa, is that a beam weapon? No fair, that's totally unfair! (Seki moves Go stones around) A flying punch? That's WAY unfair! So the Shadow's a bad guy after all! What? The Shadow can't win!

Teacher: Hey, Yokoi! Stop daydreaming, young lady. This is going to be on the exam!

Yokoi: I, uh, wasn't, uh, sir. It's not my fault! Seki-kun was, uh--he, uh...was, uh... (She points to Seki, but the Go stones are gone and he is innocently sitting and reading his textbook.)

Yokoi: Uh....uh... (stands up holding notebook, showing everyone the drawing of the bear and rabbit) All right! Here's the PROOF of his misdeeds! RIGHT HERE!

Silence....

Teacher: What's that supposed to be?

Yokoi: Uh.....aaaagh....now it looks like I was the one messing around. I'm sorry, sensei.

New York:

This particular audience had exactly 3 people:
our party of 2, plus a person visiting from New York:
while her daughter is working in Hollywood,
she enjoys various indie movies: trying to learn something new and interesting.
( In this case, Go and AI. )

Laemmle theater: /'læm-lɪ/

I was, like, “WUT? This is a political reportage, what’s this to do with it?”

...Remember to check in the upper left corner of said frames!

I'm probably biased in terms of the age factor, but I personally know local members who have been playing Go for decades and other adult members who have been playing for over one year who haven't digested connect-and-die ( the exact shape in question 23 ) !!